The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker
JD's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

First off, let me say that this book is simply mesmerizing. I call it a psychological fantasy thriller with religious undertones. That's the only way I can think to describe it. It is weird and wonderful.

The characters are some of the most realistic and genuine-feeling ones that I have ever read. Sam and Abra, our two child protagonists, have found themselves deep into circumstances that they are having a difficult time wrapping their minds around. The way they respond and react to events and other characters throughout the course of the book just felt so believable. While I think they (especially Sam) sometimes make the wrong decision I still couldn't help but root for them as this strange adventure was unfolding.

Smucker is an excellent writer. His prose is beautiful and the story world he creates is vivid and filled with such genuine characters that I couldn't help but be pulled into it. This was my first Shawn Smucker book but it won't be my last.

If you have a concrete theology about angelic beings that you hold to and don't enjoy considering other possibilities or suspending reality long enough to read a story that dashes most typical ideas of said beings, then you might want to skip this book. But if you don't mind just enjoying a well-told story with some unusual supernatural elements then I'd recommend giving this book a try.

Favorite quote: "Time covers things. But that doesn't mean they're gone."

Note: If you enjoy this book, you'll want to check out the followup to it, The Edge of Over There.




J.D. Sutter is the producer and host of the Bookworm Banquet podcast and editor of the blog. He is the founder of Porchlight Family Media, a network of quality audio programming and review websites based in Phoenix, AZ.









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